For International SOF Week 2024, all GSOF non-corporate partners will be entered into a lottery for available space. This process will ensure a fair and unbiased selection. If you have more questions about this, please visit the SOF Week website sofweek.org.
Presented by the Global Special Operations Forces Foundation and Clarion Events, SOF Week is being held 8-11 May at the Tampa Bay Convention Center.
Pre-registration opens today. Registration information is here.
See the full agenda here.
FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. —
Air Force Special Operations Command and the Global SOF Foundation co-hosted the annual Special Air Warfare Symposium [SAWS] and expo at the Emerald Coast Convention Center Feb. 28 to Mar. 2, 2023.
The symposium featured speakers from across the special operations aviation community that included AFSOC senior leadership, defense officials, industry representatives as well as allies and foreign partners from more than 10 countries that were focused on integration and cooperation to remain relevant as the threat environment continues to evolve.
U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Wolfe Davidson, AFSOC deputy commander, delivered opening remarks to symposium participants.
“The threat environment continues to evolve across the globe and we now have contested environments in areas previously not considered high risk due to the continued proliferation of threat systems,” said Davidson. “This [symposium] is an opportunity to get closer to our industry partners who are doing greats things in technology and are critical as we look to adapt our tools to the fight we have.”
Military and industry speakers identified an on-going need to collaborate to prepare, prevent, and prevail against current and future adversaries over the course of the 3-day event.
“We must continue to adapt and look for opportunities to innovate and transform our Air Commandos to remain the most capable, most lethal Air Force in the world,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, AFSOC commander. “AFSOC, alongside our industry partners, has been transforming…and we continue to look for opportunities and avenues, like the Special Air Warfare Symposium, to do so.”
The ongoing transformation of AFSOC involves a new force generation cycle, the implementation of mission command, the development of Special Operations Task Groups and Units as well as creation of multi-domain theater-focused squadrons.
“Although change can be difficult, irrelevance is worse,” said Bauernfeind. “We have a proud history and heritage of transformation to meet the mission…and we too shall rise to ensure our nation’s security.”
By TSgt Jonathan McCallum, AFSOC
Last fall, the National Defense Industrial Association announced that there wouldn’t be a Special Operations Forces Industry Conference in 2023. It was kind of like someone cancelling Christmas. But never fear, while it’s true that there won’t be a SOFIC, there will be an event focused on USSOCOM this May.
The Global SOF Foundation will, for at least the next few years, host SOF Week on behalf of United States Special Operations Command.
Bottom Line Up Front: SOF Week will continue the industry focused programming that was a staple of SOFIC, to include PEO briefings, PEO one-on-one meetings, SOCOM Acquisition focused briefings, and the Acquisition Executive Keynote.
This year, SOF Week is 8-11 May, 2023 at the SOF Week Campus, which primarily includes the Tampa Convention Center, Tampa Marriott Water Street, Tampa Westin Waterside, the Tampa JW Marriott, and surrounding areas. Although it’s a little earlier in the month than in years past, it’s in the same location.
Many in industry are concerned that there hasn’t been much communication from GSOF or their tradeshow partner Clarion Defense regarding booth space. This is because it has taken longer than expected to work out all of the details with USSOCOM. But things are now moving along at a brisk pace.
This year offers to be bigger than ever and in response GSOF has increased floor space for vendors. However, demand is at an all-time high and space is selling out very quickly. GSOF tells me the list for space requests included over 1,000 companies; literally.
You can see the current floorplan for yourself… click the drop down under “Maps” to see both floors here.
However, GSOF hears your concerns and is working to offer other opportunities for Industry like Industry Matchmaking and reservable meeting space.
Which brings me to my next point. Who better to run SOF Week? With GSOF in charge, many of us feel that the event is home, being organized and presented by former members of the the various SOF components.
As it evolves SOF Week will better align with the Command and its goals of engagement. SOF Week not only encompasses the industry conference and capabilities demonstration that many are accustomed to, but there are generally other Command events during the week.
Having said that, there won’t be a big capabilities demonstration, Commander’s Conference, or international SOF conference this year; SOCOM runs that event, and it only runs on even years. So, it will be back in 2024 and is fully directed by USSOCOM.
However, within this week-long framework, GSOF will work with USSOCOM to enhance the experience by providing additional opportunities for attendees including transition programming, professional development, internationally focused panels, and academic discussions.
Over the next few weeks we’ll focus on SOF Week and various new features for participants, both government and industry alike.
Please spread the word, “SOFIC Is Dead! Long Live SOF Week!”
Visit www.sofweek.org for more information.
Global SOF Foundation is hosting the Special Air Warfare Symposium, 28 Feb – 2 March, in Ft Walton Beach, FL.
SAWS offers two days of general sessions focused on SOF aviation topics and an expo that will highlight top members of the special operations aviation industry as well as an array of networking and engagement opportunities.
Click here for a prospectus educating active duty members on what you’ll get out of attending this event.
Want to work with the best team around?? Global SOF is hiring for four positions, including “Events Manager- SOF Week.” Check out the job posting at the link below.
Current job openings include:
• Events Manager – SOF Week
• Partner Relations Manager
• Sales Manager
• Multimedia Coordinator
R-12 was founded by Daniel F. Saad, MD, a board-certified surgeon who is also a South Carolina State Constable to offer a soft cap with 360 degree armor protection from NIJ Level IIIA threats.
Weighing between 10-12 oz, R-12 ballistic headwear is available in three models: The Patrol which is a military Patrol Cap, the Halo which is a ball cap and the Oscie which is not shown but may be worn other soft caps or shemaghs to provide ballistic protection to the head.
Northrop Grumman’s Hatchet is a lightweight Precision Strike Munition. At only 12″ in length, this six-pound glide bomb can be delivered via Class 3 sUAS and above as well as larger aircraft like USSOCOM’s new Armed Overwatch aircraft.
It features a Lethality Enhanced Ordnance (LEO) warhead which limits collateral damage while providing precision to one meter through multiple guidance technologies to include GPS/INS/EO/IR seekers.
